Can-cleaning machine



(No Modl.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. LONG. GAN CLEANING MACHINE.

No. 539,523. Patented May 21, 189 5,

IiiiiiZg nILi 'iEE INVENTOR John 011g.

WITN ESSES:

ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. LONG. CAN CLEANING MACHINE.

Patented May 21, 1895.

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' (No Model.) N 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. LONG. CAN CLEANING MACHINE.

No. 539,523. Patented May 21,1 95.

Jo h n L Q QXE WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

m: NORRIS PEYERS ca. PHOTO-LITHOY, WASHINGTON, 0. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

JOHN LONG, OF PARISH, NEW YORK.

CAN-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATIQNforming part of Letters Patent No. 539,523, dated May 21, 1895. Application filed July 5,1894. Seria1No,516,567. (1% model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN LONG, of Parish,

in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Can-Cleaning Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to machines for cleaning or washing cans after they have been filled and before the labels are put on.

My object is to provide a machine for washing and scrubbing cans upon the body and heads or ends, simultaneously, by means of reciprocating brushes and means to supply water to them, the cans being carried along in engagement with the brushes by means of an endless belt, or belts, and being at the same time rotated by said belt and the engagement of the upper brushes upon the cans, said brushes being carried by a reciprocating frame, and being adjustable vertically or laterally.

My invention consists in the several new and novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereunto annexed. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on a line through the vertical water-supply pipe. Fig. 5 is a perspective. view of part of the water-pipe. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of part of the reciprocating or brush frame and the adjusting devices for varying the projection of the brushes. Fig. 7 isa detail of the mounting of an end of an upper brush-bar. Fig Sis a detail illustrating the mounting of a side brush-bar.

A is the stationary bed, erected upon suitable standards and provided with the vertical parallel ribs 2- upon its upper face; and 3, 3- are sprocket wheels journaled below the bed, and carrying the endless sprocket chains 4:-- which slide along over the top of the bed, said wheels being rotated by a shaft 5 driven in any ordinary manner by hand or power.

Standards 6 erected upon the bed carry the cross-bars 7 andthe cross bars carry the guides 8 said guides being parallel. A presser bar 9 is suspended from the cross-bars by means of the threaded rods 10- and is ad justable vertically by means of the thumb nuts 1l and is yielding vertically through the springs 12 around said suspension rods. This presser-bar consists of the interiorly rabbeted side rails -13- '(Fig. 4.) and ends connecting them, said rabbrush frame, to which the pitman rod '-18 is connected at one end and actuated by a shaft -1 9, provided with an ordinary crank to which said pitman is connected; said shaft being suitably j ournaled and driven by a belt around pulleys upon it and upon the drive shaft 5-.

The upper brush 2l consists of a body provided with tufts of suitable bristles, or wires, in the usual manner, the ends of the body being mounted in or secured to cross pieces 22 in any ordinary manner, as between the clips 23. Said brush-holder and brushes being supported by rods 24. through the cross-bars of the reciprocating frame, are adjustable vertically by means of the thumb-nuts 25 and the jam nuts 26- (Fig. 6) said upper brush lying between the side rails of the presser bar, so as to engage with the cylindrical body of a can upon its side while it is being rolled through the machine.

The side rails -l7 carry the side brushes -27 which are mounted thereon in any ordinary manner and are adjustable laterally by means of the rods 28- and the thumb and jam nuts thereon.

A water-pipe 29-, perforated as shown,

and connected to a suitable source of supply,

showers water down onto the brushes and cans and carries off all the dirt, &c., loosened by the brushes. It will then be seen that the combined action of the continuous forward rotations of the cans, and the reciprocating movements of the brushes will thoroughly clean and scour and polish the bodies and heads of the cans and leave them ready for labeling, when they are discharged, from the machine.

The adjustment of the presser-bar and of the upper and side brushes adapts the machine to clean cans of difierent'diameters and lengths.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can washing machine, a bed, an endless carrier mounted therein, and means for operating the carrier, combined with standards upon the bed, rods mounted to reciprocate within said standards parallel to the carrier, a U-shaped frame attached to said rods and provided with vertical and horizontal brushes adapted to clean the sides and ends of the cans at the same time, and means for reciprocating the rods,substantiall y as shown.

2. In a can washing machine, abed, an endless carrier mounted therein, and means for operating the carrier, combined with standards upon the bed, a presser bar mounted on said standards above the carrier, rods mounted to reciprocate Within said standards par allel to the carrier, a U -shaped frame attached to said rods, and. provided with Vertical and horizontal brushes adapted to clean the sides and ends of the cans at the same time, and means for reciprocating the rods, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of June, 1894- JOHN LONG. In presence of C. W. SMITH, HOWARD P. DENISON. 

